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Montreal Impact
Major League Soccer
Oct 8, 2023 at 12.30am UK
Stade Saputo
Portland Timbers

Montreal
4 - 1
Portland

Sunusi (28'), Opoku (35'), Choiniere (64'), Toye (76')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Boli (86')
Acosta (53')

Preview: CF Montreal vs. Portland Timbers - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Major League Soccer clash between CF Montreal and Portland Timbers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

CF Montreal will look to move a step closer to sealing a spot in the MLS playoffs when they play host to Portland Timbers on Saturday.

The visitors, meanwhile, will book their place in the post-season if they can claim maximum points at Stade Saputo.


Match preview

CF Montreal head coach Hernan Losada reacts on June 24, 2023© Reuters

Montreal's hopes of reaching the playoffs for a second straight season have been dented by a seven-game winless run.

After suffering consecutive defeats, Montreal played out draws against both Chicago Fire and Cincinnati, before losing back-to-back away games against Atlanta United and Orlando City.

Hernan Losada's side looked set to lose for a third consecutive game when Arthur gave Houston Dynamo a 10th-minute lead in Wednesday's home fixture, but the Canadian side managed to salvage a point thanks to Lassi Lappalainen's stoppage-time equaliser.

With two games left to play, Montreal are currently sitting in ninth position in the Eastern Conference, which would be enough to secure them a spot in the inaugural wildcard round.

However, they can ill-afford to drop points in Saturday's contest, with goal difference separating them from New York City, while 13th-placed Charlotte FC are two points adrift with a game in hand.

Portland Timbers defender Claudio Bravo (5) celebrates on September 10, 2023© Reuters

In contrast to their hosts, Portland are currently enjoying a fine spell of form after putting together a seven-game unbeaten run.

The Timbers took four points from meetings with Real Salt Lake and Seattle Sounders, before claiming four successive victories ahead of last weekend's trip to Los Angeles.

Despite taking the lead on two occasions against LA Galaxy, the Timbers required a 76th-minute equaliser from Felipe Mora to ensure that the entertaining contest finished in a 3-3 draw.

With Portland sitting in seventh position and five points clear of 10th-place Austin, they will book their place in the post-season with a game to spare if they can claim their third away win of the MLS season.

Picking up all three points will be easier said than done, having failed to win any of their last four meetings (D2, L2) since recording a 2-1 away win in May 2015.

CF Montreal Major League Soccer form:

Portland Timbers Major League Soccer form:


Team News

Montreal midfielder Lassi Lappalainen (21) celebrates with teammates after scoring on October 5, 2023© Reuters

The hosts remain without the services of Robert Thorkelsson and Aaron Herrera, who are ruled out with ankle and adductor injuries respectively.

Forward Jules-Anthony Vilsaint is a doubt for the weekend after missing Montreal's last four matches with an ankle problem.

After coming off the bench to score a stoppage-time equaliser against Houston Dynamo, Lappalainen could be rewarded with a place in the starting lineup.

Portland, meanwhile, are unable to call upon David Ayala, Jaroslaw Niezgoda and Eryk Williamson, who are all sidelined with anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

Yimmi Chara and Evander are also doubts for Saturday's away trip due to hamstring and calf issues respectively.

Cristhian Paredes will have to be assessed after being forced off in the first half of the 3-3 draw with LA Galaxy.


CF Montreal possible starting lineup:
Sirois; Campbell, Waterman, Alvarez; Brault-Guillard, Saliba, Choiniere, Piette, Lappalainen; Opoku, Quioto

Portland Timbers possible starting lineup:
Bingham; Mosquera, Zuparic, McGraw, Bravo; Caliskan, Acosta, Moreno; Asprilla, Antony, Mora


SM words green background

We say: CF Montreal 1-1 Portland Timbers

Although Montreal have won their last two home meetings with Portland, the Timbers are unbeaten in seven MLS matches, and we think that they will continue that run by taking a point from Saturday's trip to Canada.

How to watch

You can watch CF Montreal vs. Portland Timbers and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Montreal vs Portland

CF Montreal
12.5%
Draw
25.0%
Portland Timbers
62.5%
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721


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